Jewel thieves

Just one of my own :). Based on the last episode there if the only soap that I watch. Well done UK readers if you get it correct :P

There might be something…special, shall we say, about this oneshot. We'll see depending on how you guys like it ;).

It had been such a pleasant evening. Henry was with Regina for the weekend, and Emma hated being in that big old house by herself (Killian had taken some of his old crew out to sea for the weekend) so Emma had gone round to spend the day with her parents and little brother. They had spent the day talking, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Now here they were, curled up together watching a cheesy movie before Emma would leave to go back to her house for the evening. Her parents had offered her to stay the night, her room was still upstairs, as it always would be. But Emma had kindly refused, she didn't want to intrude. That was when things went wrong.

Screech. Thud. Suddenly, all three adults were up at the window. A minivan had just pulled to a halt outside the family's home. Getting out were three men, all wearing ski masks or balaclavas. Two were carrying guns, and one a baseball bat.

"Shit." Charming muttered. It was too late for them to leave, they'd bump into them on the way up.

"Snow, get the kids upstairs." Charming said quickly. Snow and Emma both began to protest. They weren't leaving him down here to face thugs alone! Especially when they couldn't even call the police. The police were already here.

"Don't argue with me, please." He asked, kissing each of them on the side of the head quickly.

"I'm co-sheriff. Mum can take Neal up. I've got your back dad." Emma said. Charming sighed. He didn't have time for this. They'd be here any second.

"Emma, you don't even have your gun. I know you have your magic, but trust me, they'll be prepared for that. They've come here for a reason. Your mum and I had thugs try and break into the palace plenty of times. This time, we don't have knights to help us. The less leverage we give them, the less they've got to make us give them what they want." Snow knew her husband was right, and she knew one of them had to be with their children, she just hated that it was her. But he had called it first, and it would do no good arguing over it. One thing they both agreed on: Emma was going upstairs.

Snow quickly kissed her husband, speaking to him with her eyes: please be careful. She then grabbed Emma's wrist, ignoring her protests and quickly scooped Neal up from his crib. She had never been so grateful that her little boy was such a heavy sleeper. Now would not be the time for him to start crying. She then took her children upstairs into Emma's room, just as they heard the thugs beginning to break down the front door. Again, Emma made to go and help her dad. Snow thought fast.

"Here." She said, placing Neal in Emma's arms. She then manoeuvred Emma back so that she was between her children and the wall. "Now whatever happens, you stay behind me." Snow said quietly.

"Mom-"

"Emma, I know this is unpleasant, but your dad's right, this is the best way to keep everyone safe. If there's more than one person down there, they'll use one as leverage. Your dad is much safer if we're all up here. It's going to be ok." Snow promised her daughter, even though she was terrified. Emma and Snow then fell silent, doing their best to listen to the conversation down below.

"What do you want?" They heard Charming growl. They heard a gun being cocked. Snow and Emma prayed it wasn't aimed at Charming. "I'm armed, just like you. No matter what happens you don't leave here unscathed. Now get the Hell out of my house." They heard the intruder laugh.

"Go ahead, pull the trigger. See what happens. You think we'd come here letting you use weapons on us. See this right here? This is a magic dampening band, combined with a useful little shield that means your bullets will bounce right off while ours pass through your skull. So you pull that trigger if you want. You'd be the only one who'd end up dead." Snow was having to fight hard not to fall to pieces, or to run to Charming's aid. She knew it would only make things worse, but knowing he was down there alone with those thugs was terrifying.

"I'll ask you again. What do you want?" Charming growled.

"Where's everyone else?" The main thug asked.

"I'm alone. Emma and her boyfriend took my wife and son on his boat for the weekend. I get seasick. My grandson is with his other mother."

"Then you'll have no problem directing us to the crown jewels." They then heard Charming laugh. "What's so funny?" He barked.

"You really think we have anything like that here? We lost all of that stuff after the first curse. We make an honest living here. You'll find no rubies or diamonds. No sapphires or emeralds. No gold and the only silver you'll find is the silverware that won't be worth all that much. Now leave before someone sees you're here and comes to help us." Charming warned them. Snow desperately hoped they would leave knowing they had no riches here…when Neal started fussing. He screamed out, not liking how tense Emma was.

"Boss, can you hear that? -"

"Of course I can hear it! You lied to us. The others are here. I knew you were lying. Maybe they'll help you loosen your tongue."

"No please…" Snow and Emma heard a struggle before the feet starting getting closer.

"Mom, I'm sorry.."

"It's not your fault." Snow quickly told her before holding her arms out, doing her best to shield her children. The thugs burst in, one with a gun now pointing it at Charming's head. Snow stared icily at the group. The head thug grinned at her.

"Well it seems we're having ourselves a nice cosy chat up here." He sneered. "All while your husband is dealing with guests downstairs alone? I expected better, Princess Snow…"

"Queen." Snow interrupted him. "You heard my husband. We don't have any jewels. Nothing valuable you can sell. Now leave our home." She hissed. The guard didn't seem phased by this. Emma, meanwhile, was trying to create a fireball. But to her frustration, found that she couldn't. The head thug seemed to notice. He tapped his wrist.

"Trying to use magic to save your skins? Not gonna happen. We know all about your magic, Saviour. That's why we've got these. Your magic doesn't work while we're wearing them." He then turned his attention back to Snow. "Here's the thing, queenie. I don't believe you." His eyes drifted behind Snow to Emma and Neal. Charming saw this and tried to struggle.

"Keep that up and my friend will introduce your wife to his bat." He was warned. Charming had never been so frightened. Not for himself, but for his family.

"You." The head thug snapped, looking at Emma. "What's that around your neck?" Emma's free hand moved to clutch her swan pendant.

"This?" She asked. "This is nothing, it's worthless. I got it from a gas station store years ago." Emma told them.

"Take it off and give it to me." He ordered. Emma's hand clutched around it tighter. It might not be worth much in cash, but it had a lot of sentimental value to her. The head thug nodded to the man with the bat, who then proceeded to smash the nearby lamp to smithereens. "Do not make me ask you again!" Emma reached behind her, with Neal still in one arm, and with shaking fingers, unclasped her necklace. Snow tried to take it off her.

"If you want it that badly, I'll give it to you." Snow said, not wanting Emma near the thugs. It was bad enough Charming being in harm's way.

"No." The head thug snarled. "I said her. So give the baby to your mother and give me your necklace." He ordered her. Emma nodded, not wanting anyone to get hurt. She handed Neal over to her mom who quickly got him in one arm and firmly took Emma's hand in her free hand. The thugs looked at her suspiciously.

"You might be forcing her to give you the necklace, but I'm not letting her go." Snow told them firmly. She wasn't letting her child near people who were such a clear and present threat. The head thug laughed at this. Snow chose to ignore him. Both she and Charming had their eyes fixed firmly on Emma. The head thug had his hand held out, waiting. Emma dropped the necklace into his hand, but as she turned to walk away, the thug dropped the necklace and pulled out another band. Snow used her hold on Emma to yank her back, but the man with the band stepped forward and whacked Emma's arm. Emma let go of her mom, letting out a painful yelp. The head thug quickly placed the band on Emma's wrist, pulling her over to him.

"No!" Both parents yelled. Charming once again fought against his bonds. Only when his captor hit him in the head with the heel of his gun did Charming stop, fighting to keep consciousness. Emma tried to fight for herself, but found her vision had gone blurry and her muscles had gone weak. The head thug held her up tightly around the waist.

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" He sneered, his nose pressed against the side of Emma's head. "Magic dampening bands have a very profound effect on magic users if they wear them. Messes them right up." He then started to laugh. "Did you both really think we were stupid enough to believe that you would have some diamonds and pearls sitting here somewhere gathering dust?" He laughed darkly. He looked back at Emma. "No, I think the real crown jewel is right here. What do you think, guys? How much do you think we can rent the princess out for a night? Heck, maybe we can even sell her on for a small fortune." Snow's eyes widened in horror. Charming seemed to stir back to full consciousness at this. They'd both heard of events like this happening before. Thugs breaking into palaces (normally in the dead of night) and stealing members of the royal household. They'd either sell them to the royal's enemies or…other cruel things.

"No." Charming growled, his fight returning. "You're not taking my daughter anywhere. Get your stinking hands off her!"

"Shut up." His captor warned. Charming didn't stop. He could see the way the head thug was holding Emma tightly to him. If Charming got free he would beat him to a bloody pulp. Snow made a calculated risk and set Neal down on Emma's old bed. She was fairly certain these thugs weren't going to go for her son. It was clearly her daughter they wanted, and as such, they weren't going to fatally harm Emma. Snow still had to be careful though. They clearly weren't opposed to hurting her. They'd already put this band on that had made her so weak and they may have broken her arm with that bar. Also, Charming could still be killed.

"Here's the thing." Snow said coldly. "If you think you can just take our daughter out of here without us getting her back, you're wrong." Snow warned them. "We have friends, very powerful friends, and I'm betting there's more of us than there are of you. You seem to know magic, so you'll know of a locator potion, of the power of mirrors. As soon as you take Emma in that van, we can follow you. We can use any item of hers to find her again. Then as soon as we find her, and whoever she is with, we will show no mercy. Let me assure you of something. You do not mess with this family. When you engage your brain and realise that I'm right and you haven't though this through, you'll have ten seconds to get yourselves out of this house and never be seen near it again. Any longer than that and my husband will do to you exactly what's running through his mind right now since you may well have given a concussion and broken our daughter's arm. Not to mention what else you threatened to do with her. Your ten seconds starts now." Snow growled.

"Split!" The head thug yelled. He dropped Emma who plummeted to her knees before collapsing to the ground, the band still on her wrist. Charming's captor dropped him too and the man with the bat fled with his cronies. Snow and Charming didn't even check to see if they'd left, they knew they had. Instead, Charming scrambled over to Emma. His head was thumping, but he didn't care right now. He, and Snow, had to make sure Emma was alright. Charming picked Emma up and got her onto the bed beside Neal. Snow was then able to slip the band off her wrist. Not that Emma noticed, she still felt weak. Snow assessed her arm. She winced, it did not look good. Snow framed Emma's face with her hands. She had never been so frightened.

"Emma baby, can you hear me?" Snow didn't know what damage that band had done. Emma could hear her mother, but her brain felt so muddled.

"I- I can-mum." Emma said, frightened herself. Snow stroked Emma's cheek.

"It's alright." Snow said, trying to sound assuring. "You're ok now. We're going to make sure you're ok. Just stay awake for me." Snow told her before turning to face Charming. She didn't like the deep cut in his head blood was trickling down from caused by the heel of the gun. "We need to get her to hospital." She said seriously. "And we need Blue to assess what damage is being done by that band. You'll need checked over too Charming so I'll drive. Don't argue with me. Let's move." Charming then quickly picked Emma up in his arms again as Snow did the same with Neal. Charming held Emma slightly closer and tighter than was probably necessary. Emma had never really been brought up as a princess, so here neither he nor Snow thought of the dangers she faced purely because of that. This had been a startling reminder for them both. One they would not forget.